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Thursday, April 15, 2010 • HERITAGE NEWSPAPERS/WESTERN REGION
Kanitz commits to Lourdes
Milan wins four of five By Don Richter Heritage Newspapers
By Don Richter Heritage Newspapers
Milan’s Adrienne Kanitz has committed to continue her volleyball career at Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio. Kanitz, a 5-foot-6 setter, is the first player ever to sign with the Gray Wolves. Next year will be the inaugural season for Lourdes College volleyball. An NAIA independent school, Lourdes is adding intercollegiate athletics beginning in the fall of 2010. Kanitz said there were multiple reasons she chose to attend Lourdes. “The small class sizes,” she said. “And I was impressed with the professors that I met. They offered the program that I want to study.” Kanitz, who sports a 3.5 grade point average, said she will major in business/marketing. A two-year varsity starter and team captain for Milan, Kanitz helped lead the Big Red volleyball team to its best record in 25 years last season. Named 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, Kanitz was selected to the Monroe Evening News all-tournament team, Washtenaw County AllArea second team, All-Huron
Milan’s Adrienne Kanitz recently committed to continue her volleyball career at Lourdes College. Sitting next to Kanitz is Lourdes College volleyball coach Greg Reitz.
VOLLEYBALL League honorable mention and the Monroe Evening News All-Region special mention squad. Kanitz said she would never forget her years playing Milan volleyball. “I will take away memories including the opportunity to play with such talented players,” she said. “And taking a match from Airport was great.” In the off-season, Kanitz plays for the Huron Valley
Volleyball Club out of Ann Arbor. “Being able to play with them in the off-season has helped me out tremendously,” she said. Kanitz said University of Michigan setter Lexi Zimmerman is her inspiration. “She is such a hard worker and is very talented,” she said. With her commitment to Lourdes College, Kanitz is the seventh Milan volleyball player to compete at the collegiate level since 2007.
Milan baseball won four of five games last week. The Big Reds (5-1) swept a doubleheader against Plymouth and finished 2-1 in their own tournament a week ago. Last Saturday, Milan held its own tournament hosting Ida, Toledo Whitmer and Allen Park. In Game 1, the Big Reds defeated Ida 8-7. Milan scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the victory. Drew Harper stroked a two-run triple and later scored on a pitcher’s balk tying the contest at 7-7. Grant Karr followed with a single bringing home Michael Craig with the game-winning run. Barry Bock earned the win from the mound for the Big Reds tossing two innings, striking out four and allowing three hits. At the plate, Harper finished 2-for-3, with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Karr was 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Milan. In their second game, the Big Reds defeated Toledo Whitmer 7-2. Harper was masterful from the hill, throwing seven innings for the win, striking out three and scattering six hits. Milan broke the game open scoring six runs in the sixth inning. Jon Spence finished 3-for-3, while Craig was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. In the tournament’s final game, the Big Reds lost to Downriver powerhouse Allen Park 8-7. Milan trailed 8-5 heading into the
BASEBALL seventh inning. It appeared the Big Reds would pull out another late game victory. With two outs, Bock and Harper each recorded base hits. Craig followed with a base hit plating Bock. Karr then hit a line drive off the Jaguar pitcher’s glove scoring Harper and bringing Milan closer at 8-7. Brandon Osborne was up next and he hit a line drive off the pitcher’s elbow which was deflected right to the Allen Park first baseman who stepped on the bag ending the contest. “It was a great game,” said Milan coach Adam Gilles. “We made way too many errors, though. We had seven in the game. We basically beat ourselves. But we kept battling the whole time.” On April 6, the Big Reds traveled to Plymouth for a doubleheader. In the opener, Milan defeated the Wildcats 10-9. The Big Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game. In the seventh frame, Joe Dunn singled bringing in Harper with the game-winning run. After three innings, Milan led 63. Entering the fifth frame, the Big Reds led 7-6. Plymouth scored three runs in the sixth inning, while Milan could muster only one run. With its offensive outburst, the Wildcats led 9-8 entering the seventh inning. Jake Johnson picked up the win in relief for the Big Reds. The sophomore hurler threw one inning to earn the “W.”
Karr started and pitched four innings, giving up four earned runs, allowing nine hits, walking four and fanning three. With the stick, Chaze Poindexter led the attack for Milan finishing 2for-3 with one home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Harper was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Dunn was 2-for-3, with one double, two RBIs and one run scored for the Big Reds. In the nightcap, Milan was leading 10-2 before the game was suspended because of darkness. “We only needed three more outs to make it official,” Gilles said. “Hopefully we can get that in sometime.” Harper was the pitcher or record tossing four innings, yielding six hits, giving up two runs and striking out five. Poindexter ended up 3-for-3 with three runs scored. For the doubleheader, he had four stolen bases. Harper was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Craig was 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. The Big Reds next host the Matt Avery Memorial Invitational Saturday. Since 2003, Milan has held the invite in honor of its former head baseball coach who died in a car accident on his way to school in 2002. On Wednesday, the Big Reds host Huron League foe Grosse Ile at 3:30 p.m. On April 23, Milan travels to Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central for a game at 4 p.m.
Experience key for Milan Big Reds lose to Eagles By Don Richter
Heritage Newspapers
Milan’s girls’ tennis team has nowhere to go but up this season. After finishing 0-8 overall last year and in fifth place in the Huron League, the Big Reds look to improve in 2010. Milan coach Nathan Rodriguez, beginning his third season on the court, said the strength of this year’s team would be experience. “We will have five seniors returning to the starting line-up that have been with the team for three seasons,” he said. “Also, I
TENNIS
can’t say enough about the positive attitude our team has.” In singles play, key returnees for the Big Reds this year include seniors Cherisse Woolard and Annie Borema. In doubles competition, returning to pace Milan this season are senior Bekah Draves and junior Bethany Rounsifer, seniors Jannicka Martinsen and Toni Barnett, junior Lauren Kartje and sophomore Heather Kiger. Top newcomers for the Big Reds in 2010 include sophomores Sydney Lammers and Cassie Miller. “Cassie played on the varsity
last year, but will be changing to singles this year,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said his team would have to overcome a few obstacles this year if it wanted to improve upon last’s year performance. “Bad habits of tennis fundamentals and unforced errors are our weaknesses,” he said. Rodriguez said his squad’s goals for the upcoming season are pretty straightforward. “We want to give our best effort to improve our fundamentals and eliminate unforced errors,” he said. “And we want to have fun.”
Milan shows talent on track By Don Richter Heritage Newspapers
TRACK and FIELD
Milan’s boys’ track and field team traveled to Monroe Jefferson last Saturday to compete in the Freshman/Sophomore Invitational. In the high jump, Dylan Miller, Joe Hamlin and Blaine LeClair combined to finish second for the Big Reds. Jeremy Orlando and Kalif Kelsey joined forces to placed second in the long jump for Milan. In shot put, Andrew Kanitz and Blake Edelbrock combined for a secondplace heave for the Big Reds. Ben Fick and Edelbrock ended up third overall in
the discus. In the sprint medley relay, the Milan foursome of Taylor Osborne, Austin Schettenhelm, Orlando and Fick crossed the line third. Chris Sharp and Fick placed second in the shuttle hurdle relay for the Big Reds. In the co-ed 1,600-meter relay, the team of Ike Fink, Alex Huling, Jealissa Kitchen and Tess Odegard crossed the line second in 4:13.0. Samantha Leache, Eran Young, Miller and Osborne ended up eighth in 4:48.9 for Milan. Huling, Fink, Odegard and Leacher placed second in the co-ed 3,200-meter relay with
a clocking of 10:35.5, while Josh Priest, David Swain, Karen Schelkun and Hannah Meissner finished seventh in 12:48.2. Milan coach Chad Lawver said he was proud of his squad’s effort last weekend. “The younger kids did a nice job despite some cold weather starting out today,” he said. “The sophomores are showing a lot of improvement fast. They are ready for a dual meet. Our long jumpers are looking really promising.” The Big Reds next travel to Flat Rock for a Huron League meet Thursday at 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Milan hosts Grosse Ile for a league meet at 4 p.m.
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By Don Richter Heritage Newspapers
Milan’s girls’ tennis team lost to Ann Arbor Skyline 5-3 in a season-opening dual match last Thursday. In singles play, Big Red Cherisse Woolard defeated Izzy Romero 6-4, 7-6 at the No. 1 flight. At No. 2 singles, Annie Borema lost to Eagle Swati Tyagi 6-1, 6-0. At No. 3 singles, Milan’s Sydney Lammers, playing in
TENNIS
her first high school match, lost a three-set marathon to Mariana Caamano 7-5, 1-6, 3-6. Big Red Annie Baker lost to Libby Barber 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4 singles. In doubles competition, Milan’s No. 1 duo of Bethany Rounsifer and Bekah Draves defeated Emily Harju and Kimberly Aldworth in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, Jannicka Martinsen and Toni Barnett lost to Skyline’s Savannah Horstmann and Kylan Bennet
6-4, 6-2. At No. 3 doubles, the Big Red combo of Lauren Kartje and Heather Kiger defeated Jessica Eisma and Minjung Kim 6-2, 6-0. Milan’s Katie Werstein and Lizzie Jones lost 6-4, 6-1 to Sarah Wang and Shruthi Narayanan 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4 doubles. The Big Reds next host Grosse Ile Tuesday at 4 p.m. On Wednesday, Milan travels to Ypsilanti Lincoln for a match at 4 p.m.